Posts Tagged ‘coastal decor’

Coastal colors, finishes and materials make up the beach decor or coastal living style that we all love … the style that perfectly suits our beach decor art. It is, of course, a lifestyle. And, we are indebted to Stanley Furniture’s website for a beautiful presentation in living color, detailed text, and video of what exactly we mean.

Elements of the coastal living style include three distinct color palettes:

1) SEA GLASS. This color scheme borrows from those twinkling treasures collected over long walks on the beach. Layers of blues and greens – in shades ranging from royal to periwinkle. Set against white, these colors dazzle, or mix and match to create your own coastal mosaic.

2) PASTEL. Pastels are equally at home in casual or more sophisticated settings. Blend blues and greens with the playful pink of conch to create a Caribbean getaway every day.

3) AMERICANA. Head due East to capture the look of the Cape with this classic color combination. Go nautical or patriotic with accents of red, white and blue or explore the many shades of the sea from deepwater to navy.

Interior designer Robert Searle described the Sunset Key Guest Cottages in Key West as “eclectic.” They offer a stylish take on coastal comfort, with expansive and primarily white living areas warmed by natural fibers and punched up with hits of island colour.

Robert said the inspiration for the interiors of the cottages came from his own childhood. “I spent many summers in Nantucket and blended the look here with Caribbean colours. I call it the ‘Nantucket Key West Look.'” Here’s how you can have this seaside look in your home, starting with:

1 Paint
The perfect base for any coastal chic room is the perfect white. A cool white channels a crisp New England vibe, while warm off-whites create more of a tropical vibe. The paint meisters at Ralph Lauren Home nail white like no one else. (And they’re not too shabby on the complementary island-y jewel tones, either, if you’re looking for a warm and welcoming yellow, like the one pictured above). Go to rlhome.polo.com to see the palette.

2 White sheets
Nothing says “four-star hotel” more than silky cotton 400-thread count sheets in classic white. The extra deep fitted sheets make bed-making less taxing for those of us who don’t have maid service. President’s Choice Home luxury bedding: presidentschoice.ca

3 Jute rug
A sisal, sea grass or jute rug is a fast and easy way to give your home an organic, natural element. A canvas binding will give the piece a clean, finished look. IKEA’s classic Egeby rug comes in different sizes and has a non-slip latex backing for safety.

4 Wood blinds
Enhance the ambiance as well as privacy of your home with these slatted wood blinds. Choose a light stain for a coastal chic vibe, or a deep, rich tone for more of a Pacific islands feel. For a Key West look, a mid-tone stain is versatile and classic: blindstogo.com

5 Wicker chair
Since the Canadian climate is anything but tropical, all-weather resin “wicker” can be better than the real thing. It won’t crack or unravel (even if you put it outdoors), and it’ll always look its best. The chic super-dark stain paired with an electric blue cushion makes this anything but your grandma’s wicker. (Switch things up by changing cushion cover patterns periodically.)

What better way to bring calm and comfort into your bedroom decorating than by using a beach theme? There are lots of ways to make your bedroom one of your favorite seaside haunts. Give these ideas a try:

It’s All about the Color
Color often makes or breaks a room, and beach theme bedrooms are no different. There are a few different ways to use color in a beach themed bedroom. If you want to have a nautical theme, then think of red, white and blues. If you want to go with a more tropical sunshine feel, you have your choice of going with bright, vibrant colors, pastel colors, or some combination of the two. Whether you go down the nautical road or the tropical road is a matter of personal preference – along the lines of whether your ideal beach vacation is more Cape Cod or Caribbean islands.

The Right Furniture
The best furniture for your new beach bedroom should incorporate natural elements from seaside environments. Look for polished driftwood, teak, bamboo, and wicker accessories that inspire that beach feeling. Lighter shades of wood work best for beach themed decorating, although darker pieces can be incorporated into nautical themes.

Hand carved wooden starfish mounted on metal frame with single hook

Accessorize
After you have chosen your colors and picked your furniture, you need all of the right accessories to pull the look together. Seashells, anchors, hand carved ocean animals, our hand carved Wooden Starfish Hook – all of these things will give your room those finishing beach inspired touches.

A fun decorating tip for those of you lucky enough to already enjoy cottage living, try introducing some subtle coastal accents to your decor with the addition of some hand crafted sculptures made by your favorite folk artisan.

As a wonderful ‘tongue in cheek’ way to diffuse lighting glare, utilize random fish sculptures as wall sconces. Where? Anywhere there is a need. Sky’s the limit! The Dolphin Abstract sculpture would be fantastic in the kitchen or breakfast room.